The One That Got Away

Kingston Ale House #1

by A.J. Pine

How far will one man go for the woman he's loved since high school?

Jamie

I've been in love with my best friend for as long as I can remember. I tried to tell her in high school, which royally backfired. Ten years hasn't changed things, but now I'm finally ready to lay it all out on the table. The only problem? She's got her sights set on someone else.

I made the mistake of letting her go once before. This time, I'm going to prove that the only guy she needs is me.

Brynn

We're best friends--nothing more--and it's good like this. That's what I've been telling myself since the night in high school when we shared a single kiss, a night that was great--but then wasn't. Now we're on a road trip to California, and he's surprising me at every turn--helping me overcome my fear of heights, belting out my favorite Monkees song, and looking way sexier with his shirt off than a best friend is supposed to.

But admitting how I feel may mean losing our friendship. I thought I'd find happiness in California, but now I'm wondering if the right guy for me has been by my side all along.

Each book in the Kingston Ale House series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Road Trip

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 18, 2016

About the author

A teen librarian by day and a romance writer by night, A.J. Pine can’t seem to escape the world of fiction, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s the author of the If Only series (Entangled Embrace), the Only You series (Berkley/Intermix), the Kingston Ale House series (Entangled Select), and the Crossroads Ranch series (Forever Romance). When she finds that 25th hour in the day, she might indulge in a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires, superheroes, and a certain high-functioning sociopath detective. She hails from the far off galaxy of the Chicago suburbs.

Reviews

[sraxe · Rating 2 out of 5]

My journey through this book can basically be summed up into one gif:



For most of this book (which rates more like a two and a half, but GR's rating system doesn't make that possible), I was on the fence. I wanted to like it, and sometimes I did, but then the characters would do something that would annoy me. To add to that, when they said or did certain things, I could kinda sorta maybe understand where they were coming from, but it still left me very annoyed. And by the end, I was pretty much over it. Even the name of the book has me on the fence. I don't see Brynn as "the one that got away" when not only was he the one to reject her in the first place, but also that they've been bffs forever-ever. I mean...I guess? Eh. (Refer to above gif for my exact feelings.)

Forewarning: Like always, there will be spoilers.

The story begins with them in high school. Brynn was getting ready to go to a party so she could kiss her crush (Spencer), but she ends up getting sick. Jamie, her bff, shows up and takes care of her. Blah blah blah, stuff happens and they end up kissing and she realizes she likes him. Jamie, on the other hand, has had feelings for her for a while, so he's definitely down for things to go this way. BUT, of course we need conflict, so his parents end up divorcing and he puts things on hold with Brynn romantically because he doesn't want to jeopardize their friendship and watch it crash and burn like his parent's relationship.

Ok. Cool. That's fine with me. (I mean...I think it's a little dumb that he wanted to preserve their friendship...by almost ruining it and breaking her heart. But whatevz.)

Now, ten years later, they've worked back to solid friendship and are still bffs. They're having a small high school reunion and Brynn's crush from high school will be there. Brynn wonders what could've happened all those years ago and, because her romantic life is at a stand-still, she wants to see it play out. At this time, Jamie also feels a rekindling of feelings for her and wants to pursue something with her again. (Which, honestly, it seem his problem isn't so much with Brynn moving on, but more so that the person she's moving on with is Spencer. His feelings only seem to surface then.) He breaks up with his current girlfriend, Liz, and goes to see Brynn at the reunion...only to find her drunkenly straddling Spencer (though nothing had happened at that point). They have a blow out and things don't happen with Spencer again. BUT, Spencer invites her to his book launch across the country, where he also hopes that something will happen between them. Jamie, needing to go to a beer fest (he brews beer, btw) in that vicinity, offers to drive her there. He's hoping that on this trip, she'll come to choose him of her own volition rather than him pushing his feelings on her. Oh, and he doesn't tell her he's broken up with his girlfriend. Because that's smart.



Ok. I was fine with this, too...for the most part. I felt there was a realism in their decisions, but I was still at a conflict. I know it's realistic, but his reasons and actions for breaking it off ten years ago felt rather flimsy to me. But, I didn't hate it because I liked that, during those ten years, they both dated other people and had relationships and moved on. (For the record though, I thought Jamie's plan was really dumb. So you want her to choose you of her own free will...while not telling her your feelings and her being under the impression that you're currently in a relationship.) But fine...I'll roll with it.

However, I wasn't down for a lot of Jamie's thoughts/feelings. When he first decides to pursue Brynn after breaking up with Liz, he returns to the reunion venue and hears about how she's sneaked off with Spencer and feels a panic, wanting to "catch Brynn before she did anything he wouldn't be able to get over." I mean...wtf? Like what? Kiss Spencer? Sleep with him? Like you've presumably been doing with your girlfriend for months, you hypocritical ass? Like you were probably doing ten years ago when you realized you liked Brynn but were in a relationship with another girl? Bitch, please.



And that's the thing about him. He's been in plenty of relationships during those years. His relationship with Liz, which has lasted longer than any previous relationship of his, has only been going for three months. I don't know if he's a serial dater, but if three months is your longest and you've been in the dating game for ten years...? There's no mention of him struggling to date (it says that his "social life wasn't lacking" and Brynn mentions watching him go through "relationship after relationship"), so the chances of him having dated a lot is very high (and he does say that "he'd seen his share" when it comes to women's breasts). He says that he's never quite been able to connect with a woman he's been in a relationship with, nor has he felt any sort of regret at it being over. However, he also says that he'd been close to falling in love a couple of times.

Now, compare that to Brynn. She's dated previously and goes on weekly blind dates foisted upon her by friends/family (because "some of her married friends and her mom felt an obligation to the poor, single twenty-seven-year-old doomed to a life surrounded by a litter of cats"), but they clearly weren't to her liking because she mentions that her friends/family don't know her at all "judging by the men they set her up with." And although she says she hasn't had a serious boyfriend in a year, nothing about him or any of her previous relationships is mentioned at all. (And hey, I wouldn't mind that usually, but it annoyed me that we get information about Jamie's dating history but she's pretty much a blank slate.) Like...I know she's dated and has been in relationships, but it felt quite different compared to the dating profile that Jamie was given. While he was the one holding back in those relationships (which one can assume would've been great otherwise), she's had a rather lacklustre dating history by comparison. (Which is something that stood out to me because he's the one we're told has been pining after her for aaaages...but she's the one getting shafted in the dating department?)

Partway through the book, he sees a text on her phone from Spencer after they sleep together. He feels "bitterness rising in his throat" at her possibly being with Spencer. And I get it, but it annoyed me... as was the case with a lot of things in this book. Like I mentioned, he only just broke up with Liz, who'd been his longest relationship to date, he's presumably slept with plenty of people in the last decade, and he's been the one pining after Brynn for years. Yet, we don't get scenes of Brynn feeling a bitterness towards him for being with other women. And it's not that I want her pining after him while he sleeps around, which is something I absolutely hate, but it's that it presents a double standard to the reader and the response it evokes of them. He's sad to see her with others (Spencer), and in openly expressing it in his thoughts to the readers, we're made to be sad for him because omg he's pining after her!

• Jamie was the only one Brynn let see her immediately post-bun, and he took a certain pride in this—even if he was here to take her to a party where she planned to kiss another guy.

• The tears came fast now, tears that tugged at his heart because he knew what they were for. He knew whom they were for: Spencer Matthews.

• “For you, Sleepy Jean, I’d give them both.” ... He was a goner. How he made it through this year without blurting out his feelings was a mystery, because when she looked at him like that, like he was the only one who could fix the mess that was her night, the words repeated over and over again in his head: I’m in love with you, B. But she’d made no secret of how she felt about Spencer Matthews since the school year started, which meant Jamie was well practiced in the fine art of holding it all in.

• Though who’s to say it wasn’t always there, this thing between [Jamie and Brynn]? Correction—this thing between them only Jamie seemed to feel. And who was he to stand in the way of her dream? He wouldn’t be that guy, letting his feelings interfere with her happiness. They had too much history for that kind of selfishness. Brynn made her choice, and it wasn’t Jamie. But tonight the universe seemed to be on his side, postponing the torture of watching her fall for someone else.

(And that's just the prologue!)

But Brynn, aside from feeling a "tiny stab of jealousy" and getting mad at him once, she almost never expresses thoughts like this, so it's never there for us to look at Jamie badly or negatively for dating and sleeping with others, even around Brynn. (And that one time she does get mad? It's not even addressed by him because he derails.) And Jamie says this to her face and uses it throughout the book—how he felt seeing her with Spencer, how he felt watching her pine for Spencer while he had a crush on her, etc...yet we don't get that from Brynn (aside from the one time that I mentioned). (It's also in the language—jealousy versus bitterness. They evoke different responses when used.) So Jamie is able to make Brynn guilty for having had a crush on another boy—a crush with whom nothing sexual was able to occur—yet he's never made to feel guilty for all the women he's been with. He feels bad for pushing Brynn away and towards another man, but it's Brynn who's made to apologize in the end for her feelings towards someone else because they made him sad.



And that's not to say I don't like a pining hero—because I do—but it's that I felt there was a disconnect there. He constantly expresses his feelings for Brynn—that he knew she was the only one for him, that he's been in love with her since he was a teen, that "[he's] always known it was [her]" (etc.)—but he's all too happy to move on in the last ten years. And like I said before, there's a realism there, in both his initial fear to preserve their friendship and then in having him move on, but I still wasn't able to completely reconcile my feelings when it came to comparing his thoughts and actions. And those unsure feelings were then furthered by her lacklustre dating history in comparison to his clearly more than active one. He's supposed to be the pining one, right? The one who's loved her since he was a teen and watched her crush on another man and and and? Yet she's the one who's doomed to a sexual drought, crappy blind dates, and possibly cat-lady singledom?



The other thing that had me feeling unsure was when they had their fights. Brynn said the things I wanted her to say and call Jamie on his shit, but then I felt there wasn't enough emotion there. I wanted her angry and she was saying the things I'd hoped she would...but it felt more like she was reciting a script. And then on top of that? Not only would she back down anger-wise, but Jamie was also quick to turn things around on her. She's the injured party in the situation—both now and then—but he's the one who gets the last word.

“You already messed with my heart once,” she admitted. “For a decade I’ve watched you go through relationship after relationship, and now that you finally realize I’m the one you want, you don’t even say anything? ... If I hadn’t gotten sick that night ten years ago... would you ever have told me how you felt? Or was it all bullshit?”

“Hey,” he interrupted, anger and pain warring in his tone. “That wasn’t bullshit. Jesus, Brynn. I watched you pine for Spencer for a year. You didn’t quite give me an opening to spill my heart. And then when you finally did, I was fucking terrified of losing you after I lost my goddamn family. I needed the one thing in my life that was stable, that wouldn’t change or pull the rug out from under me. And that was you…my best friend.”

(That's the derailing I was talking about above, where the "relationship after relationship" bit goes unaddressed.)

“You’ve had almost two weeks to tell me how you felt, but instead you’re more worried about protecting yourself. You’re exactly the same guy you were ten years ago. You may be keeping yourself safe from getting hurt, Jamie, but all you’re doing is breaking my heart again. I thought I’d made you a cheater. I thought you’d made me a home wrecker. ... I get how scared you were then. I really do. But this is now. We’re adults, and I don’t want to play games anymore. What does it matter how we might feel if you can’t be honest with me?”

Then, soon after...




Then, later on during a second confrontation...

Brynn threw her hands in the air. She wasn’t sure if it was tears clouding her vision or just outright fury. “For you,” she said. “This will be easier for you, Jamie. But you didn’t think to ask what I want. You didn’t think to ask if I wanted to play along with your whole Brynn needs to make her choice scenario, either. You just decided for me because it’s what you want or need or whatever. You need proof about how I feel, right? Well, guess what, James? All you’ve been proving to me is that you’re just as good at pushing me away now as you were a decade ago. ... You’re unbelievable. ... So worried about your own damn heart you don’t think about what you’re doing to others. ... And just so we’re clear, by others I mean me. My heart, Jamie.”

And soon after...

... Brynn didn’t want to leave angry. ... He smiled, and her anger softened to a dull ache that tugged at her heart a little too much.

I also didn't like how he felt the need to constantly reiterate not just how much he loved her, but how much more he loved her. Hey, give me a dude who totally loves the heroine, sure, but it felt more like an ego thing for him, almost? He had this martyr/victim-complex thing going on the whole book, which I guess goes hand-in-hand with the ego business, because he felt the need to prove how he loved her sooo much more than she could and has ever loved him. It was almost patronizing, really, with how he wouldn't listen to her words and protests, deciding he knew what was best for her. I can understand his desire in wanting to be sure of her feelings, but I wasn't down with how he was overriding her because he felt he knew best. I have to prove how much I love you by forcing you to go meet another man despite your protests since duhhh I love you SO MUCH that I know what's best. It felt more self-fulfillment for him and his ego than something he was doing for her. Like I said, it felt patronizing.

On the note of a victim complex, I mention that because he acts self-pitying the entire book. Wow, he loved her and she was drooling over another guy! (Never mind the fact that I was dating Stephanie Delaney when I realized I loved you to begin with and had given no indication I wanted anything more than friendship from you.) Wow, he loved her since he was sixteen, even during the decade of simply friends! (Never mind the fact that I was the one who rejected you originally and then opted to date dozens of women after that.) Wow, he found her straddling her high school crush in his office! (Never mind the fact that you had no reason not to do so since I'm currently dating another woman and, like ten years ago, have given no indication that I want anything more than friendship from you.)



It's not that he's an outright asshole or anything...but my God, the victim complex! Even at the end, when he sees her in the hotel lobby with Spencer (after he'd had a change of heart and decided to come after her) and assumes the worst, he has to get his victimhood on:

“It’s okay, B,” he said, his voice hoarse but at least able to articulate a few words. “I wanted you to be happy, either way. This was what I wanted, right? For you to figure this out. A heads-up you were staying with him would have been nice, but what’s done is done, isn’t it?”

We’re done, he thought and started backing away, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Not yet. Because as soon as he looked away, broke that last semblance of connection, they really would be done.

Oh my God, so sad right? Makes you want to weep, huh? Yeah...if you ignore the fact that the night before, when they were lying in bed together, he let her cry herself to sleep because he didn't want to comfort her and let it lead to something else. Oh, and if you ignore that, after their car broke down the morning after, he bought her a bus ticket without asking. Oh, and that, while they're at the bus stop, she's still trying to convince him to rethink this stupidity of his. AND, even after she asks him to reconsider this and believe in her love and yada yada yada, he puts her on the bus to go meet another man anyway.



I would've been more open to listening to his hurt and unsure feelings if he hadn't been around the block during the last decade. Please fuck off with your hypocrisy, thanks.

I'm sure you guys want to know if there was some sort of grovel? Sure there was! From her. Brynn is the one who "grovels" in the end, basically. Yes, the one who was pushed away both ten years ago and actively during the book and had their feelings undermined the entire book is the one who apologizes. Oh, and does a public grand gesture to win that person who was patronizing af back. She, who was constantly made to feel guilty and apologetic. ffs, she cried because of how he was pushing her away and he just laid beside her and did nothing. And she's the one who goes through with the grand gesture for the self-pitying, perpetual victim. She was a doormat. And that annoyed me even more as the story went on, but especially by the end. Sure, Jamie wasn't some abusive asshole, but even with his stupidity, it annoyed me that she gave into him over and over again. Sure he takes his time getting there and understanding, but that makes it even worse because he's the one misunderstanding the entire time...yet she still has to be the one to take responsibility? It makes no sense that she has to be the apologetic one. He should be the one apologizing and grand gesturing his way into her heart for being a doofus the entire time.

UGH WHATEVER. Like I said:



On a personal pet peeve note, this was another book featuring a 20-something character being into pop culture from previous decades. Look, I know there are plenty of people out there who like the culture of a decade that's not theirs, but this is a common thing with characters who grew up in the 90s. I have no idea how old this author is, and she may very well be a millennial, but it's usually that authors want to write the current time period and feature 20-something characters, but then don't bother researching what kids of that age group might've been into as kids/teens, so they apply their own experience, It just bothers me so much when authors do this because it's so common. I'm really tired of the ~not like my peers~ 20-something characters. (I hope y'all Directioners/Swifties/etc. throw a fit a decade or two from now when there'll be 20-something y/o characters who are ~not like their peers~ and totally into BSB, Spice Girls, and *NSYNC. I'm waiting for it.)

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 Stars***

"I lied to myself - and to you - for a long time. But every day for eleven years, even when I wouldn't admit it, I've loved you."

GAH!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!! If you're a fan of friends to lovers....READ THIS! DO IT!!

Friends to lovers is my favoritest trope in all the land and this book ticked off so many of my boxes.

I swear sometimes these reviews are the hardest to write....the ones where it can easily turn into incoherent gushing. So, you know what, I'm not even gonna try to be all fancy shmancy....I'm just gonna gush all over you!

I felt every single second of Jamie and Brynn's history. I've read books before where I'm all "yeah, they're friends...but not BEST friends." Sooooo not the case here. I was 100% invested and hooked by the end of the prologue!

All of the inside jokes and anecdotes were sprinkled in perfectly!! Just enough to keep you engaged and remind you of how deep their connection is, without it feeling like the author is trying to convince you. I loved their obsession of celebrity perfume/cologne and Brynn's silly celebrity infused nicknames for Jamie (his full name is James) when she's feeling serious emotions (James Earl Jones Kingston, James Filmore Kingston, James Van Der Beek Kingston, etc)...and every time it made him laugh. Oh! And how she's accident prone, and gets all flaily when she's excited, and somehow Jamie always ends up the victim.

Brynn's love of The Monkees! And the fact that Jamie calls her Sleepy Jean. GAH!! Serious swoon. And when he sang to her...

Two words. Road Trip. Not only did A.J. Pine give me a friends to lovers tale....but she threw in a roadtrip. There were shenanigans, mishaps, and the ever welcome revelations. Just a great combination!

The secondary characters were fantastic. The rest of the crew..Brynn's sister, Holly; her best friend and boss; Annie; and Annie's brother and Jamie's co-worker, Jeremy....all of them really felt like a tight knit group. And I can't wait to read all of their stories!

This book has such a terrific balance between emotion and humor. I laughed at Brynn and Jamie's antics, at their inside jokes...and I got all choked up when a special moment would happen and all that pining would bubble up.

I ain't mad that they're from Chicago!

I would seriously be remiss if I didn't mention that beer tasting scene! Wooo boy!!

BUT...

I did get frustrated towards the end when Brynn and Jamie's stubborness felt a bit like overkill. And they kept circling the same topic without really listening to each other. And Jamie's martyrdom made me want to throttle him.

BUT...the grand gesture?! Yeah, that righted things real quick and POOF frustration gone!

Anywho...there's my gushing! I was about halfway through this book when I went and scooped up the rest of this series.

So there you have it. All that's left to say is...READ THIS BOOK!!

[Fanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The One That Got Away es mi primera lectura de A. J. Pine y tiene como protagonistas a Jamie y Brynn.

Al ver la portada y leer la sinopsis de esta novela me hice una idea de lo que me podria encontrar entre sus paginas pero la verdad es que me equivoque totalmente con esta historia.

Por alguna razon pense que este libro seria el tipico ligero, sencillo y sin profundidad para leer entre lecturas mas complejas pero para nada fue asi, la historia de Brynn y Jamie termino cautivandome al ser mas dulce y emocional de lo que imaginaba.

Este es el tipico caso en el que empiezas a leer un libro con pocas expectativas y dicho libro te sorprende gratamente, sinceramente no esperaba que esta novela fuera a ser tan linda ni que fuera a disfrutar tanto leyendola pero realmente me hizo pasar un rato genial.

Muy recomendable, si quieres una historia de Friends To Lovers si exceso de drama ( y paginas ) es muy buena opcion.

Te aseguro que este libro es mas memorable de lo que parece en un principio.

3.5 Estrellas!

[ambsreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

No full review for this is to come because I can never exactly put contemporaries into words.

The One That Got Away was a super cute novel, but didn't have anything else for it but that. The story line was similar to most contemporaries, and in some parts I found myself confused by the writing. I'm unsure if it was just me and my tiredness or if the circumstances kept changing mid page?

However, Jamie and Brynn were a couple I almost instantly shipped so I needed them together and that is why I couldn't put this book down. But damn, so much drama, even just in the first 20%.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

Friends to lovers...I'm a big believer in couples having a solid friendship before it turns into more and in The One That Got Away this couple has had 10 years of friendship and a few blips to finally begin to figure out that what they feel is more than friendship. I enjoyed this crazy, funny, and sexy story even when there were times I wanted to shake some sense into one or both of the main characters.

Best friends since junior high Jamie Kingston and Brynn Chandler have seen each other through good times and bad, relationship woes, sickness and health. After one kiss in high school they vowed never to speak of the incident again and though they were separated for 4 years of college, they've spent the years since together again as best friends. As their 10 year high school reunion approaches Brynn is convinced she's finally going to get to kiss the guy she crushed on all through high school and Jamie is trying to figure out a way to make her see that he's the one she really needs.

There was something so crazy about the way these two were in each other's lives, did everything together, enjoyed each other's company but couldn't figure out they were in love until push came to shove. More hilarious was the fact that everyone around them saw it, but they simply refused to go down that path. I loved the way that Jamie always told Brynn he'd be there to catch her and he wasn't just talking about her clumsiness and how Brynn was so proud of Jamie's accomplishments as a brew master. When they head out on a trip from Chicago to L.A. things really get interesting and come to a head and it is easy to see how terrified they both are of losing each other as friends if they become more.

There was a whole lot of emotion in this story and it was easy to feel what these characters were going through. You'd think as best friends these two would be great at communication, but when it came to sharing how they really feel about one another they really messed up repeatedly which in a way was part of the charm of this book. It boiled down to their friendship was so important to them that they worried they'd lose that if they didn't work out romantically.

For anyone who has fallen in love with their best friend, for anyone who loves road trip stories, and for anyone who can appreciate that sometimes love takes a whole lot of time and a few mistakes to get right then The One That Got Away is perfect for you.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[A.J. Pine]

Guys...this book! I can't even tell you how much fun I had writing it. I hope you have as much fun (if not more) joining Jamie and Brynn on their cross-country road trip while they try to navigate not only Route 66...and ten years of buried heartache. Eeep! Galleys go out ANY DAY NOW.

P.S. This is book 1 of 4. To keep up with all things Kingston Ale House, like sneak peeks at covers and blurbs, come join my series group HERE.

[seton]

Genre: CR

DNF @ 23%

I love the Friends to Lovers trope but this was dull. The MCs were unengaging and there was too much Paralysis by Analysis for me.

Tags: Road trip, Best friends since junior high, Chicago

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, You hung the moon, Stars!!

“I wasn’t in love with her. It took being with her to realize that I was already with the person I loved most. She just didn’t know it yet.”

“I lied to myself–and to you–for a long time. But every day for eleven years, even when I wouldn’t admit it, I’ve loved you. It never lasted with anyone else because you’ve always had my heart.”

I just loved this book to pieces!! This is the perfect spring/summer friends to lovers romance. One of the first things that caught my attention was this cover. The colors that were used are fantastic. I knew I had to find out more. And once I read the synopsis, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this read. There is just so much to love about this book; you won’t be sorry you checked it out!!

Told from dual points of view, The One That Got Away follows the story of Brynn and Jamie. For Brynn and Jamie, the timing was never right. You see, Jamie has always been in love with Brynn, but too afraid to do or say anything about it. So, when the opportunity to kiss the girl of his dreams comes up, Jamie can’t say no. However, life had other plans and things never went past a kiss. Now, 10 years later, fate has intervened again. Jamie has tried to move on and ignore his feelings for Brynn, but that is just something that proves to be impossible. Jamie can’t go another day without letting Brynn know how he truly feels…Will Jamie finally get the courage to tell Brynn how he feels? Will these two get their HEA? You’ll just have to read to find out!

The One That Got Away was such a fun and light read. I am such a sucker for a good friends to lovers romance and this one had me from the very beginning. I just loved and adored Brynn and Jamie from the moment I met the two of them. Not only were they amazing friends, but they had such great chemistry. There were so many missed chances between the two of them and I couldn’t help but find myself rooting for the two of them. I couldn’t help but hope that they’d finally get their chance.

The One That Got Away is a fantastic start to The Kingston Ale House Series. It is a quick, easy read that is full of heart and light on the drama. You can definitely read it in one sitting. The story-line is fun and the characters are entertaining. This book will make you laugh. It will make you shake your head. It will frustrate you at times. It will make you swoon and it will make you fall in love. I loved everything about this book and can not wait to see where the series will go next!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

[Dísir · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could have liked the story as much as I liked the blurb, but it all went sideways once the male protagonist (not hero, in my opinion) started finding more and more insipid excuses for his cowardice and insecurity about getting the girl he's always wanted.



It only took ten years...and even then, it wasn't without a circus-ring of stupid behaviour that somehow came to pushing his forever-girl to meet *another* man so she could decide whether her own feelings for the 'hero' were real or fabricated. If years of solid friendship isn't a convincing factor enough, if this isn't quite the height of hypocrisy or condescension, I wouldn't know what is.

The emotional games played here got ridiculous to the point where I couldn't read anymore without thinking that this guy simply didn't deserve her.



What is love without drama at least? It's the question this book tries to answer with much aplomb, but unfortunately, the shenanigans both the main characters fall into simply can't convince me that a woman could possibly want someone who just can't be forthright about his feelings unless cornered and smothered into reassurance.

[Eva • All Books Considered · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 21%

This one was all over the place for me -- the writing was constantly drifting between POV and past and present enough to give me whiplash. I also couldn't even figure out the actual action happening in the story because of poor writing and editing. I thought this would be a second chance romance but it was really a friends to lovers, neither of whom was particularly likeable.

Skip this and read Honey Red by Liz Crowe or When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill instead.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit repetitive at times and Jamie being so stubborn got annoying sometimes but the rest of the book was total catnip for me lol

[Wendy'sThoughts]

Let's see if I have this right...
Friends since middle school...
A clumsy kiss and neither talk of it ever since...

He has always loved her during these past 10 years...
She loves him being her pal and shares she needs to find her special someone now...

Well, of course, this calls for Road Trip...
How else will he be able to show her the way...
Show her He is her HEA...

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[Megan Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite friends-to-lovers romance, with AJ's trademark smooth and witty writing. I adore everything she writes, and she gets better with every book. Brynn and Jamie's story will have you swooning!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This. This right here is how you write a Friends to Lovers romance! Thank Heavens! I’ve been having such a hard time with this trope lately, and by lately I honestly mean all year. I may have groaned a little when I saw this come up on my list as next to read, but then I thought, “Cool your jets Shannon and have a little hope. You were intrigued enough by the synopsis to read it, so here you are, put on some big girl panties and get to it.” And so I did. There’s only been two other F2L(Never Stop Falling and The Slam) that I’ve sunk my teeth into and really enjoyed, while everything else felt lack lustre. But The One Who Got Away? YES! This is what it’s all about! This is what I need! I need to know of the characters connection, of their bond and their background. I need to see how they are as friends first, not just be told then boom, we have a relationship. AJ Pine delivered on every point in my checklist. Solid connection: check. Unresolved feelings: check. Personable and genuine characters: check. Sweeter than your grandmother’s cobbler: check. You get my point, I’m sure.

“You know I’d give my left arm to make you feel better, right?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “It’s not that big of a sacrifice, considering you’re a righty. If you really cared—” She cut her own joke short to attempt a swallow, and it only made her cry more.
“For you, Sleepy Jean, I’d give them both.”

I’m a sucker for road trip romances. How about we confine two people in a small space with some unresolved feelings and uncertainty about some other stuff while they travel thousands of miles and spending every minute of the day and night together? Sounds like a good plan to me! Each pit stop the characters encountered on their trip was well thought out. Every scene had a purpose that contributed to the overall effectiveness of the story, and they also didn’t have any hidden meanings. The reader watches as each character realizes the depths of their feelings, faces set back after set back and ultimately have to decide whether they will fight for a relationship or not. It’s quite a journey to say the least.

“You’re full of surprises today, Mr. Kingston.”
He took the flask from her, capped it, and tossed it back in the truck. “Maybe I’m just prepared,” he said when he was by her side again.
“Such a boy scout.”
He raised a brow.“Not sure they give badges for bringing alcohol on a road trip.”

I loved the amount of angst in The One Who Got Away. I mean really, let’s just start with that title, based on this alone you know there’s going to be some. It wasn’t overwhelming or heavy handed, but the perfect amount in each scenario to get a grasp of the real feelings both Brynn and Jamie experienced. Then at one point I’m pretty sure I heard my heart crack open a bit. It hurt! The desperation jumped off the page and the air was thick with anguish. My eyes maybe even watered a little… Or maybe not. Nope, I’m lying, it happened, and I can’t even blame it on the Jack Daniels that the MCs seem to prefer.

“I don’t want to be the guy who stood in the way if there is someone who could make you happier than I could.”

Brynn and Jamie are just average people struggling with an average problem. He’s always loved her, but many moons ago she was rejected by him, so end of their love story, right? Maybe not, especially when said person is still your best friend after 10 years. The One Who Got Away takes us on a journey of trust, second chances, crashing weddings and seizing the day. Engaging characters that you can’t help but root for, finding their way home.

“I wasn’t pretending, B.” He let out a long breath while Brynn seemed to hold hers. “I don’t know what that means, but if it means anything to you at all, please…tell me.”

There’s a certain line of the synopsis that I fell in love with, “Brynn has to decide if the one that got away lies at the end of the journey or if he’s been by her side all along.”. The whole one who got away concept can be a touchy subject for some people. Whether it’s a high school crush or the first person you told those three little words to, sometimes a relationship doesn’t work out. Maybe it’s timing, maybe it’s fate, whichever. This is a very real concept in today’s society and one in which our heroine is trying to work through. What if what you thought you wanted changed? What if you realize that everything you’ve ever wanted, ever needed, was possibly in a person that you never expected to have a chance with?

You want to know what was excellent about this character dynamic, other than pretty much everything? They actually spoke to each other. Aired out some dirty laundry, some hopes and some fears, some feelings that had long since been repressed. What really happened that night 10 years ago? When they had something to say, they said it, they worked through it, they talked about it like adults – not just run off acting all wounded and hurt. Granted I guess it would be a little difficult to run away from someone when you’re trapped in a car with them, but I digress. Either way, I enjoyed it. They talked things through, explained exactly where their reservations were coming from and worked together to try and get past these issues, if that’s what each wanted. They discussed what they needed from each other in order to make it work, and a plan was made as to how they might finally be able to get there.

With all of this being said, these two are in fact only human. Sometimes they make mistakes or don’t decide on the best possible decision, but in the moment it does make sense. I could always understand why certain decisions were made and for the most part completely agreed with them. Once they realized these misses, they worked to try and fix the mistakes. Can I just have a choir chorus in the background for a second, praising adults that can talk to each other and work through issues? Okay, that’s enough, thanks.

On top of everything else, I really liked how sweet the relationship between Jamie and Brynn was. No matter the hold up, experience or problem, they were there for each other through the years. If you’re looking for a tattooed, bulging muscled alpha, look elsewhere. Jamie made my heart flutter and teased a smile on my lips. He was so cute, so down to earth, so good for Brynn and I loved it. As long as he could stay out of the way of her flailing limbs, eccentric gestures and the occasional letter opener of course, and even then.

“You’re perfect.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“I’m in love with you, and I just thought you should know.”

The writing was really well done. AJ transitions from scene to scene with ease and a fluidity that binds moment, action and thought together. It’s written in a third person narrative and while this isn’t my personal favourite style of writing, I found that I quite enjoyed it. It held my interest, I never felt like I missed a character’s thought and it was clear as to which character was being focused on at the time. And did you see it’s the first book in a new series? I can’t wait for the others! The brewmaster angle is refreshing and I can’t wait to read more about these characters in the future.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

Oh and if you check out http://tbbsisterhood.com/2016/04/20/r... you'll find some cool teasers and my song connection!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (3/28/2020)! 🎁

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review



“The past ten years will always be between us if we don’t see this through. I don’t want to be the guy who stood in the way if there is someone who could make you happier than I could.That was the truth. She meant enough to him that her happiness came first.”

A.J. Pine delivers a smart, witty, and charming read that is wildly entertaining!!!! For all you friends to lover romance trope fanatics, this is one book that you wouldn’t want to miss. Get those #oneclick fingers ready because this friends to lovers story will have you swooning and awwing right off the opening pages. In this whirlwind adventure where the lines of friendship begins to transition to something more, Ms. Pine will douse her readers with all the FEELS for one incredible love story.



It is often said timing is everything. And for Brynn and Jamie, these two best friends never seem to get their timing right. Circumstances always seem to be in their way. So fast forward to ten years later, Jamie and Brynn are reunited and embark on a road trip of a lifetime. Soon these best friends will find themselves getting their second chance of what if. What if it they finally act on their feelings. What if, they could see that have the best of both worlds. Best friends and lovers. So if timing is everything, will you grab that opportunity before “the one gets away?”

“And yes, it also still terrified him to love someone this much, with every ounce of himself, and know there was always a chance he could lose her. Nothing was certain. He understood that now. But he also understood that loving his best friend was worth all the risk, because trying not to love her? Well, that wasn’t an option anymore.”

I adored this book. It was light, smart, fun, and adorably sweet. This book had a wide array of emotions to make your heart burst with so much love as Jamie and Brynn begin to see that this road trip was a pivotal moment in their relationship. AJ Pine has perfectly layered this book with so much depth, which allowed readers to understand, feel, and see that this friendship is so much more than just two best friends. It is real. Honest. Pure. And it is love. So if you are looking for a book that was smart and beautifully well-written, then I urge you to read this book. And I can 100% say that AJ Pine has perfectly timed a palpable love story that will set hearts fluttering.



Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...A.J. Pine

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had sort of a love / hate relationship with this book.

That sounds worse than it probably is. It's just—Jamie and Brynn infuriated me. I wanted to shake them and knock some sense into them because they kept making these terrible decisions and getting in their own way. It was frustrating and sometimes—at different points throughout the book—I didn't like either one of them very much.

And then, just like that, they'd turn around and be sweet and funny and a little bit silly. They'd have a revelation or open up their hearts a smidge. They'd unconsciously perform adorably considerate actions and I'd want to hug them and squish them and love them forever.

Seriously, love/hate. I loved the ending—sweetest, cutest, most adorable ending ever. But the road to that ending was rocky and full of highs and lows for me. Sometimes the highs didn't balance out the lows, and sometimes I was so frustrated with both of them, it was hard to stay invested. But that ending… That ending made up for a lot.

I enjoyed so much about this book—the pop culture references, the easy banter between Jamie and Brynn (when they weren't busy getting in their own way), but I think my favorite thing was the supporting characters. Their roles weren't huge, but it was their little quips and digs that pulled me out of my frustration and back into the fun of this book. I'm looking forward to more of them, digging into their stories, and making myself at home at the Kingston Ale House. ~ Shelly, 3 stars

[Marochka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Я, конечно, предполагаю, что у меня просто не было настроения для этой книги, но... более занудной истории я не читала. Я читала эту книгу почти 2 недели, наверное, рекорд для меня, обычно максимум дня 2-3. Герои мне совсем не понравились, мне постоянно хотелось их встряхнуть и побить. Вот 10 с лишним лет они страдали друг по другу и никак у них ничего не получалась. ПРЯМО НИКАК. ВСЕ. ВСЕ на свете было против них.
Я с ужасом думала, что когда дочитаю, - это будет еще не конец истории (т. к. книга в Америке вышла совсем недавно, и она серийная, но про продолжение ничего не известно), что опять там что-то против них восстанет. Слава Богу, вроде, конец.
В общем, я так много ждала от истории (друзья детства, классная аннотация), и она меня жутко разочаровала.

[Lia Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to sneak peek this book-so stinking fun and cute. Perfect for Friends fans. Kingston Brewery is like Central Perk...except there's beer. Bonus!

Review to come.

[Maria Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed previous stories by A.J. Pine and I was excited to read this first in the Kingston Ale House series. Craft breweries are becoming more popular as social venues, so it stands to reason that they would start to show up as subject matter in popular fiction. It’s a setting that lends itself well to romance subplots with its more intimate settings and the inclusion of the sensuality to be found in food and drink. This particular story features a friends-to-lovers romance with themes of unrequited love and second chances.


Brynn and Jamie were best friends in high school. He had a crush on her but she was enamored with popular student Spencer. On the night of a party where she's hoping to get her first kiss from Spencer, Brynn goes down with a nasty virus. Good friend that he is, Jamie skips the party, too, and takes care of her. She's so disappointed at missing her opportunity to kiss Spencer that Jamie obliges her instead, something which makes her see her best friend in a new light. But just when things could go one way, they end up going another. Jamie's parents split up, and devastated by this, he is more interested in preserving his friendship with Brynn than risking it in a relationship that could fail. He tells her that they can't be a couple, and for the next ten years, they have a sometimes awkward but overall strong friendship, and are determined not to talk about what happened (and what could have happened) between them. Fast forward to their 10 year high school reunion. Jamie is dating someone else and Brynn has a second chance to attract Spencer's attention. (Truthfully she hadn't thought too much about him in the interim but high school memories come back into play). This time her plans are foiled by Jamie, who interrupts them just as they are reconnecting. Jamie feels guilty at ruining Brynn's chance to fulfill her high school dream so, determined to make it up to her, he offers to drive her across the country to where Spencer is having a party to celebrate the publication of his first book.. It's conveniently being held in L.A. where Jamie has plans to sponsor a table at a craft brewery convention. Realizing that he has strong feelings for Brynn that have never waned, he does the right thing and breaks up with his current girlfriend before their trip. (He neglects to mention this to Brynn). He hopes that during their cross country drive she'll realize that it's him that she really wants and not Spencer. Can their friendship finally turn the corner to true love?

Even just trying to summarize the plot of the book makes it clear that there's a lot of background to Jamie and Brynn's relationship, as would be the case with any long term friendship. Feelings of unrequited love exist on both sides. Jamie never got over his crush of Brynn in high school, and Brynn never forgot about that kiss and her newly awakened feelings for Jamie. Yet for both of them, their friendship meant more than the chance at a relationship. For the next few years after high school they were in separate places going to college, but then they got over the awkwardness and back onto solid ground. With a high school reunion looming, and being back in one another’s orbits again, everything comes back to the forefront. The idea of a road trip will definitely force them into some one-on-one time - for better or worse. Jamie breaking up with his girlfriend to pursue Brynn was definitely the right thing to do; however, the fact that he didn't tell Brynn right away bothered me. It meant that any interaction between them would be colored by her belief that he was already committed to someone else.

Midway through their cross country trip, they stop in a small town and get caught up in a whirlwind of wedding festivities for a local couple. As part and parcel of the reception, they have their fair share of alcohol and it leads to a situation where they are mistakenly assumed to be a newly married couple themselves and given a room for the night by a local bed and breakfast owner. Alone and inebriated, they finally give in to the long held sexual attraction between them. I felt a bit uncomfortable that they had to be drunk for this to happen, although as they were equally drunk, neither is taking advantage of the other. And it’s obvious that they needed something to let down their inhibitions and finally come clean with each other about their feelings. In the clear light of day, Brynn feels guilty - she's now the other woman! Eventually Brynn finds out that Jamie had broken up with his girlfriend before the trip. She is angry and hurt (rightfully so, in my opinion) that Jamie kept this from her. It's not the only thing Jamie is keeping from her and much of the second half of the story is a series of miscommunications, failed opportunities and general drama that could have been avoided with some honest communication. Because of this the second half of the story drags.

On the plus side, the author has taken care to research the upswing in craft breweries and it shows in the writing. Jamie is passionate about what he does. Creating different blends of flavours is an art, and he's studied it and is perfecting it. Because Brynn has been around him while he learned the business, she's also picked up the language and a more than rudimentary knowledge of the brewing industry and beer in general. There's a cute scene when they are on the road where they end up at a bar and Brynn does some flirty taste-testing of the beers on tap. I liked that Brynn supports Jamie's business and is someone he feeks he can rely on for honest input about his brews. I would have liked to have seen more of the running of Jamie's brewery.

Brynn and Jamie definitely have chemistry (there are some sweet and sexy scenes between them) and a solid friendship on which to base a relationship. Eventually we get to that happy ending after several bumps in the road and I was relieved when we finally got there. I don't think The One That Got Away is the best example of this author's work, but it's a solid friends-to-lovers story for those who enjoy that trope. I definitely plan to read the next one in the series and I'm hoping to see more of the brewery business and a couple who aren't as stingy with communication as this one was.

This review can be also be found at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Melenareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book on my TBR list for a long time and I wish I hadn't waited so long to read it!

Jamie and Brynn have been best friends since high school. There was one moment where they had a chance to become more, but it didn't work out. Now 10 years later they may have a second chance if they can learn to trust their feelings.

This was a really fun book with the friends to more trope I enjoy, a road trip, and stumbling blocks for the couple that felt realistic and not overly angsty.

Both Jamie and Brynn make mistakes but their love for each other is evident. I liked getting glimpses of their history together without the plot getting bogged down with too many flashbacks of extra details. They both struggle with communication which I sometimes do not like in books, but it was done well here.

A number of secondary characters were introduced, too, as part of their friends group. They added some humor and acted as sounding boards for both Jamie and Brynn. I am looking forward to reading their stories in the next three books in the series.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.

[Corina Malinalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Killion Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Annie is the only character with any logic and doesn’t need a solid slap

[Rê · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 “Road Trip & Best Friends” Stars

ARC via NetGalley

Thank you, Entangled!

First things first, BEAUTIFUL COVER!!! *swoons*

Okay. Now that that is over...


Take a look at my recent reviews and you’ll know how big of a fan of the “BFF to lovers” trope I am. That was reason #1 I requested “The One that Got Away” when I saw it on NetGalley. I’m sorry to say not even one my favorite book tropes was enough to make me fall for this book.

Jamie and Brynn have been best friends for a really long time, but in high school Jamie realized he wanted more. Too bad Brynn had a huge crush on Spencer Matthews and didn’t see Jamie as anything more than a friend. That changed the night she got sick and, being the best friend a girl could ask for, Jamie took her of her. The way he treated her opened Brynn’s eyes to a new possibility: maybe Jamie was the one she was supposed to kiss after all. Spencer, who?

Perfect, right? Except when Jamie’s dream were about to become reality, he pushed Brynn away. *presses pause* You see, that’s when my problem with the story started. He had her and he said “let’s be just friends”, and the reason behind his decision wasn’t good enough for me. *presses play*

Flash forward and we have grown up Jamie and Brynn still acting like the BFFs they were in high school, but refusing to talk about what happened the night she got sick so they friendship could stay intact. Little did they know they had already crossed a line, and there was no uncrossing it.

Brynn’s high school crush, Spencer makes a comeback as a now successful writer and Brynn is ready to give that romance another chance. Of course seeing that, Jamie decides it’s finally time to fight for the woman he loves. Hm, weird thing is everything he does after that moment is the complete opposite of fighting. When Spencer invites Brynn to visit him in L.A., the same place Jamie is going to for a business-related event, he offers her a ride. In his mind, Jamie is giving Brynn the opportunity to spend some alone time with him on the road, so she can choose him over Spencer, but he plans on making her come to that realization without letting her know that he’s broken up with his girlfriend because he’s in love with her. He wants to be her first choice, so he doesn’t want to influence her. Except she has no reason to believe he’s changed his mind since the last time she’d kissed him and he told her he needed her as a friend more than as a girlfriend.

You see how his logic makes no sense? I’m not the only one who thinks that. Brynn’s sister and their other friend, Annie (really liked her, by the way) thought the same. Even Brynn gets pretty mad at him when she realizes his intentions. I can’t blame her.

My biggest problem with this book was that the drama seemed to go for way longer than necessary. Jamie’s actions and line of thought lacked sensibility, and Brynn’s attitude wasn’t much better. The lack of communication between these people who should’ve been best friends made the whole situation a lot harder than necessary, and made me doubt they were as close as they wanted it to seem.

There were some good moments during the road trip that made me cheer for them and want to see them together. Some were super hot, like the tasting beer thing. *fans self*

But some of those moments were swallowed by the character’s habit of twisting each other’s actions and words with the sole purpose of creating more drama, which wasn’t a compelling aspect. And... *SPOILER*: the cheating!!! ugh! It was unecessary and showed me a side of the characters I didn't really like. Why Jamie would let Brynn sleep with him while she thought he had a grielfriend and not tell her the truth is beyond me.

The writing was okay, but I thought it could’ve used another round of revisions. I have to say that surprised me, since most of the Entangled titles I’ve read this year were in pretty great shape. I also think this book could’ve benefited from a first person narrative, instead of third, or even a single POV.

So, while the “BFF to lovers” aspect of the story made me want to read it, the execution unfortunately fell flat. Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a bad book, but I didn’t connect with the characters or the narrative enough to enjoy it the way I expected.

[Jasmine Lexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I stumbled upon this book on NetGalley I knew it would be a sweet story and I had to read it. Needless to say I requested it. And got approved short after. After being on a Fantasy/Sci-Fi reading binge for months I needed something to switch things up, so I picked The One That Got Away up and it was the perfect decicion!

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

The story starts off ten years back. It's Brynn's and Jamie's senior year, one week before graduation. Brynn is getting ready for a party to finally kiss Spencer Matthews, who she's been crushing on all year. She ends up getting sick with mono (mononucleosis) and Jamie makes sure to take good care of her. This was the day they'd crossed the line of being only friends - with a kiss. Fast forward ten years to their reunion and the road trip that will decide it all.

Brynn and Jamie managed to steal their ways into my heart very quickly and I found myself cheering for them to become a couple just a few pages into the book. They both want the best for each other, but they're also very stubborn and should have just talked things out right away. All the back and forth when it came to making decicions and letting small things change their mind was getting on my nerves, especially when the situation could have been avoided by listening to what the other had to say and not overthink or overanalyze everything. This was especially hard to look past from around 60% until almost 90%, but I still loved them both. I could understand and relate to them.

"I'm still mad at you."
"As you should be."
"But it's a nice gesture. Very gentlemanly."

Holly, Brynn's little sister, is a sweetheart. Their relationship is perfect, it's just the the right amount of support and sisterly "bullying".
Annie is the friend you'd always ask for advice and who'd push you in the right direction, even if you didn't ask her to.

Love is always enough, because if you love someone then you fight to make it work.

I really loved the dual POV and it definitely was necessary in this book, because I wouldn't have understood the character whose head we wouldn't get to look into, if there was only one POV.

Conclusion - 3.75 stars
This book is as sweet as candy. It would have gotten a full four star rating if there wasn't that one third of the book which made me doubt the two main characters because of their indecisiveness. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes a good romance, road trips and wants a light story to fly through, with characters who will have you cheering for them.
The One That Got Away includes mature content.

[Aimie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The One That Got Away is the first book in The Kingston Ale House series.


The One That Got Away mainly revolves around Jamie Kingston and Brynn Chandler's relationship. They have been best friends since middle school. When Brynn gives Jamie a kiss, there friendship was tested. Planning to never cross the line again, they continue on with their friendship.

Jamie has loved Brynn for as long as he can remember and now he is ready to tell her. However, she now has her sights on someone else. Knowing this is his last chance, he asks Brynn to go on a two-week road trip. Their time alone brings old hurt and Brynn is left to decide if the one that got away is at the end of this journey or if he has been her side all along.


I am a major sucker for road trips and friends turned lovers. Fear has kept Jamie and Brynn from trying to move from friends to lovers. Being afraid that if they crossed the line, their relationship would fall apart and nothing would ever be the same again. However, when an old high school crush of Brynn's is at their high school reunion, they must face their past and any possible future together. The characters are relatable (especially their insecurities), the struggles were real, and the plot was delightful.

If you like novels filled with romance, heartache, tears, and laughter, then I would definitely recommend you read this novel.



ARC was kindly provided by publisher, Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For this review and more, check out: http://amalialock.blogspot.ca

[Hilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feelings that have been brewing between best friends for a decade is definitely the recipe for off the charts chemistry. Jamie and Brynn can attest to that. Does anyone else feel like timing is everything and also the one thing that is the hardest to get right? Jamie and Brynn have the worst timing, ever. After a failed high school hook-up, the two best friends swept everything under the rug and moved on with their lives. Or so they each thought. Fast forward ten years later, upon a high school reunion, the two bffs find themselves in the same boat they were in that fateful night a decade ago. They still can't seem to get their timing right, though. Ergo an epic road trip that will either fail miserably or end in happily ever after. The road trip is nothing short of hilarious and dramatic. This is such a great story, the writing is easy to get into. I found myself really feeling for Jamie and Brynn, who royally suck at communicating their feelings in effort not to rock their bff boat, a lot during a trip that's supposed to help them figure shit out. There's no lacking in awww-inducing moments and times when you'll want to shake some sense into either Brynn or Jamie!

[Jaime Fiction Fangirls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is honestly one of those books that had me ready to pull my hair out because of the constant miscommunications and/or lack of any communication at all between Brynn and Jamie. They have been lifelong best friends who once kissed but never took it further. Even though they are both harboring more than friendly feelings for each other. Unfortunately they are both too focused on the what-if's of their past that they never look at what could be their future.

I think my favorite part of the story is Jamie's brewery and the way he and Brynn connect through the love of craft beer. Actually, I think that Jamie was my favorite part of the story period. Even when he was being an idiot, he was doing so with good intentions.

Like I said, this story was frustrating but it was also such a good friends to lovers romance that I couldn't help falling in love with Jamie and Brynn anyways. If you can get past the communication issues, you should definitely give this light-hearted sweet romance a chance.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Riki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book! You get not one, but two of the sweetest grand gestures in the end. Beers, baseball, and a deeply satisfying friends-to-lovers romance make this is top read for me in 2016.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of my favorite things: beer, travel, and love. How could I not love this book?!?! I loved this story and I thought the beer tasting scenes were so, so perfect. I'm excited to read the rest of this series! <3